Torah Deep-Dive with Rabbi Levi Dubov

Kabbalah and the Hidden Architecture of You

Lesson 1: Echoes of Your Soul in Everyday Life

Why does a certain song move you? Why did you marry the person you did? Where does your soul go when you fall asleep, and what are your dreams really telling you? In this opening lesson of Kabbalah and the Hidden Architecture of You, we discover that the soul isn’t hidden away backstage. It’s spilling into your everyday life all the time: in the music you love, the longing for a partner, the nightly routine of sleep, and even your strangest dreams.

Sinai and Civics

Lesson 4: The Separation of Powers

Is dividing government power just a mechanism to prevent tyranny, or does it serve a deeper purpose? Every civics class teaches how power is split among three branches of government. But the Torah described its own model of divided authority thousands of years earlier, for a very different reason. In this lesson, we look at how the king and the Sanhedrin divided power under Torah law, why even a king could be tried for breaking it, and what happens when a society removes that higher authority from its public life.

Sinai and Civics

Lesson 3: In G-d We Trust

Why is owning a home the ultimate symbol of the American Dream? The answer traces back to a radical biblical law: every fifty years, the Torah required land to return to its original family (Leviticus 25:10). Discover how that ancient idea shaped America's vision of opportunity, and what "In G-d We Trust" really means for how we work and earn today.

Sinai and Civics

Lesson 2: The Roots of Equality

Why did Thomas Jefferson call it "self evident" that all men are created equal, when for nearly all of human history it wasn't self evident at all? What did the Torah teach in Genesis 1:27 that no ancient civilization had ever imagined? And how did that idea find its way from Sinai into the Declaration of Independence? Join us for Lesson 2 to find out.

Sinai and Civics

Lesson 1: The Founders of the Covenant

Why has America been so welcoming to Jews, more than any other country in our 2,000 year Diaspora? In this opening lesson of Sinai and Civics, we trace the answer back to America's founding, and to a covenant made long before that, at Sinai.

What is Jewish mysticism? Why was Kabbalah kept hidden for centuries? And why do Chassidic teachings and the Tanya consider these ideas essential for every Jew today?

In this in-depth conversation with JLI, Rabbi Levi Dubov explores the origins of Jewish mysticism, tracing its roots back to Mount Sinai, the teachings of the Zohar, the revelation of Kabbalah, the Baal Shem Tov's spiritual revolution, and the publication of the Tanya by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi.

This discussion offers a powerful introduction to the inner dimension of Judaism and the transformative teachings of Chassidus.

If you've ever wondered:

Who am I? Why am I here? What is the purpose of life? What does God want from us?

This video explores the Jewish answers to those timeless questions.

#kabbalah #jewish #mystical #torah #bible

Produced by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute.

For All Humankind

Lesson 4: It Will Get Better

Why be good if the world never gets better? Is history just an endless loop — or is there a destination? And if Judaism carries a message for all of humanity, can we really afford to keep it to ourselves? In this episode, we break the cycle, reclaim hope, and explore what it means to be a light unto the nations — not just in theory, but right now.

For All Humankind

Lesson 3: Educating ChildrenAre we raising good people — or just successful ones? In this episode, we unpack the uncomfortable gap between achievement and character, ask whether morality can exist without a Divine foundation, and explore why a simple moment of silence might be one of the most powerful tools in moral education. If you've ever wondered what we truly owe the next generation, this one's for you.

For All Humankind

Lesson 2: Is Morality Obvious?

We all agree murder is wrong. We all agree stealing is wrong. But why? In Lesson 2, we're putting logic, conscience, and social norms on trial — and finding out why none of them can actually hold the line. What does the Torah say morality is really rooted in? And what does that mean for how we're obligated to treat each other? Is morality obvious? You might be surprised how quickly the obvious answer falls apart.

For All Humankind

Lesson 1: The Message of Abraham

What is Judaism's message to the world? It's not "be Jewish." What does it mean to be a light unto the nations? From Abraham's radical vision of ethical monotheism to seven foundational values given at Sinai for all of humanity — this first session uncovers a dimension of Judaism that is fascinating. Join us in lesson 1 as we begin exploring how an ancient tradition holds answers to life's most essential questions.

Captivating Cases in Rabbinic Responsa

Lesson 6: Forging Forward

Will AI replace rabbis?
That’s just one question today’s technology is challenging us to answer.
Lab-grown meat. Surrogacy. Space travel. All of these raise important questions for Jewish practice.
We’ll uncover the decisive answer to the highest-stakes question of them all:
Now that we’ve seen what it takes to answer a question of halacha—if AI can do all that, could it replace rabbis?

Captivating Cases in Rabbinic Responsa

Lesson 5: The Fifth Factor

In our fifth lesson, we’ll see cases where taking a question at face value would mean missing the point.
These are cases where rabbis had to look past the question to see the questioner:
You know your tefillin will be incinerated if you bring them to the hospital—so what are you really asking?
You know this man isn’t the messiah—so what is your real question?
Explore five fascinating cases to discover the social, political, and emotional factors that rabbis have to consider when answering questions.

Captivating Cases in Rabbinic Responsa

Lesson 4: Counterweights Considered

You’ve probably heard a lot of loose talk about “loopholes” in Jewish law.
In Lesson 4, we’re putting those rumors to rest.
Why do rabbis sometimes rule in unexpected ways?
Turns out, there are values hardwired into Jewish law to protect things.

Captivating Cases in Rabbinic Responsa

Lesson 3: Precedent in Practice

New inventions, dangerous new historical realities, or just people doing new things—how is the Torah able to guide us through it all?
Dive into more fascinating cases to explore the Torah’s model for applying existing precedent to new and novel situations.

Captivating Cases in Rabbinic Responsa

Lesson 2: The Quest for Facts

Do sages make assumptions about how reality works, or do they investigate the facts? Follow rabbis as they conduct five fascinating investigations worldwide.

Cases: Cairo, 1548; Altona, 1709; Hamburg, 1772; Jerusalem, 1866; Brooklyn, 1958

Captivating Cases in Rabbinic Responsa

Lesson 1: The Questions and the People who asked them

What do these questions reveal about our ancestors? What did they think, feel, and value? Explore five fascinating stories to find out.

Cases: Barcelona, 1300; Algiers, 1450; Modena, 1530; Spain, 1450; Auschwitz, 1944

The Kabbalah of Meaning

Lesson 6: I Mean Something, Therefore I Am

Before you do anything, you are worthy. Discover Judaism’s empowering understanding of your inherent worth as an individual and as a Jew, and how it calls us to even greater achievement.

The Kabbalah of Meaning

Lesson 5: Meaning in the Unchosen

Some things are clearly meaningful, but what if everything is? Explore a vision of life where every event and circumstance catalyzes growth and leads to greater purpose.

The Kabbalah of Meaning

Lesson 4: Meaning in the Rhythms of Time

As time flies by, is it just more of the same? Discover the rich texture of Jewish time, and how attuning ourselves to each moment’s message enables profound spiritual purpose.

The Kabbalah of Meaning

Lesson 3: Meaning in the Mundane

If existence has a purpose, then what is it? Discovering that purpose uncovers the mystery of life's details. Even if it happens every day, daily life needn’t feel ordinary. See how every part of the day can be as significant as your highest aspirations.